A well-known Michigan State University alumna, who can be seen regularly at the MSU tennis courts cheering on the men’s and women’s tennis teams, decided to show her love and passion for the Michigan State tennis programs recently.
Joan Secchia, an MSU College of Education graduate in 1964, said that her love and devotion for the game and the Spartan tennis program has allowed her to make a $10 million commitment to the university’s varsity men’s and women’s tennis programs.
“As a tennis enthusiast and a longtime Spartan, I am thrilled to make this commitment in support of both the men’s and women’s tennis programs at MSU,” Secchia said. “I am excited about the future of Spartan tennis and the impact this commitment will have on current and future student-athletes.”
This is not the first large donation from the Secchia family, as Joan Secchia and her late husband Peter Secchia made multiple contributions to the university. Michigan State’s softball field, Secchia Stadium, is named after them from a $1 million donation made by Mr. Secchia to the program when building the stadium.
Mr. Secchia unfortunately died in 2020 while battling Covid, amongst other health issues, but Joan Secchia, who resides in Grand Rapids, is still a major fan of Spartan athletics.
The donations from the Secchia family have already had a major impact on the tennis programs, enabling the two teams to have new opportunities and applications they didn’t previously have.
Michigan State announced that the most immediate applications of Secchia’s gift will include “significant improvements to the Spartan tennis facilities, including new outdoor courts and enhanced spectator seating at the outdoor courts.” The University also announced that additional upgrades and enhancements using the funds will be determined later.
One of the upgrades includes an additional building, including offices for coaches and locker rooms for both the men’s and women’s tennis players.
Michigan State’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller said the university was grateful for the donation and that it’s so great coming from a fan of Michigan State athletics.
“We are extremely grateful for Joan Secchia’s generous commitment to our men’s and women’s tennis programs,” Haller said. “Joan is a longtime supporter of Spartan Athletics with a history of transformational giving. An avid tennis player herself, Joan’s gift will positively impact the student-athletes in our tennis programs for years to come.”
